The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
In the decades since its founding, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has earned a reputation as a distinguished ensemble with an extensive concert schedule, wide-ranging repertoire, and a significant representation on recordings. In 2021, the orchestra was heard on the album Xiaogang Ye: Winter, as well as a recording of Mozart Concertos, backing Francesca Dego.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is the direct descendant of the Scottish Orchestra, founded in Glasgow in 1891. Throughout its first 40 years, the Scottish Orchestra had a series of principal conductors, beginning with George Henschel from 1893 until 1895. In 1933, while the orchestra -- along with the rest of the world -- was facing financial difficulties, subscribers and patrons kept the ensemble afloat. That year, John Barbirolli assumed the post of principal conductor; since that time, the orchestra has been helmed by many well-known conductors, including George Szell, Walter Süsskind, and Alexander Gibson (the first Scot to lead the ensemble and the longest-tenured), among others. Under Süsskind's leadership, with the establishment of the Scottish National Orchestra Society with monies from several Scottish cities, the Scottish Orchestra became a permanent ensemble, changing its name to the Scottish National Orchestra in 1950.
During its early years, the orchestra played its Glasgow concerts in the acoustically wonderful St. Andrew's Hall. From the time the hall was destroyed by fire in 1962, the Scottish National Orchestra played in a series of venues of varying suitability. In 1977, during Gibson's tenure, Queen Elizabeth II granted the orchestra royal patronage; Gibson also earned his knighthood that year during the Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours. The redesign of the Trinity Church on Claremont Street in 1979 gave the Scottish National Orchestra a new home: Henry Wood Hall. In 1991, the orchestra changed its name to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, affirming its royal patronage. It was briefly named the Royal Scottish Orchestra but reverted to its present name in 1992.
While the orchestra boasts a wide-ranging repertoire, it has been singled out for its recordings of Bruckner, Barber, and 20th century British composers like Bax, MacMillan, and Holst. It has also earned a particular reputation for recorded performances of film scores, including a Gramophone Award in 1997 for its recording of Bernard Herrmann's score to Vertigo. In 2015, the orchestra moved to its current home, the RSNO Centre at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Neeme Järvi (principal conductor from 1984 until 1988) is the orchestra's conductor laureate, and Alexander Lazarev (principal conductor from 1997 until 2005) is conductor emeritus. Following a six-year stint as principal guest conductor, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra appointed Thomas Søndergård its music director, effective in 2018. In 2021, the orchestra was heard on a collection of works by Xiaogang Ye on BIS and, under Roger Norrington, backed Francesca Dego on a Chandos recording of Mozart Concertos.
© TiVo Staff /TiVo
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Holst: The Planets
Alexander Gibson, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Sep 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SEASCAPES
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonic Music - Released by Chandos on 1 Jun 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Macmillan, J.: Epiclesis / Ninian
John Wallace, John Cushing, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Alexander Lazarev
Classical - Released by BIS on 30 Jun 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
John Lill, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 2 Feb 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Copland: Long Time Ago
National Youth Choir of Scotland, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Christopher Bell
Classical - Released by Signum Classics on 1 Jul 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bax: Symphony No. 4 - Nympholept
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by 2xHD on 25 Mar 2014
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Westering Home
National Youth Choir of Scotland, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Christopher Bell
Classical - Released by Signum Records on 30 Nov 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Cantos Sagrados: I. Identity
National Youth Choir of Scotland, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Christopher Bell
Classical - Released by Signum Records on 8 Apr 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ge Gan-Ru: Chinese Rhapsody
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, José Serebrier, Margaret Leng Tan
Classical - Released by BIS on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Colina: Requinauts, "Return to Spirit"
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Annie Gil, Nicholas Mulroy, Ira Levin
Classical - Released by Fleur de Son on 11 Nov 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Patric Standford : Symphony No. 1 - Cello Concerto & Prelude to a Fantasy
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Raphael Wallfisch, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 3 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5
Catherine Bott, Stephen Roberts, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Classical - Released by Chandos on 1 Jun 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SYMPHONIES No. 3 & 4
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Symphonic Music - Released by Chandos on 1 Sep 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concerto pour violoncelle - Symphonie n° 3
Raphael Wallfisch, Neil Mackie, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Cello Concertos - Released by Chandos on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Melodies From Scotland
The Ayoub Sisters, Paul Campbell, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) (Classics) on 20 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dimitar Nenov: Piano Concerto & Ballade No. 2
Ivo Varbanov, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Emil Tabakov
Classical - Released by Hyperion on 2 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18 (Live)
Luka Okros, Thomas Søndergård, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Classical - Released by Luka Okros on 19 Sep 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wilson: Piano Concerto & Introit
David Wilde, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Classical - Released by Chandos on 1 Jul 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo